Minnesota’s Trevor Mbakwe (32) reacts as the buzzer sounds at the end of an NCAA college basketball game against Illinois, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013, in Minneapolis. Illinois won 57-53. (AP Photo/Genevieve Ross)

Trevor Mbakwe finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds, but his fourth turnover with under a minute left sealed the No. 18 Gophers’ sixth loss in the past eight games Sunday, Feb. 10, against Illinois at Williams Arena.

The Gophers (17-7, 5-6) had a chance to take the lead, trailing 54-53 with 1:12 left, but Mbakwe threw a pass over Joe Coleman’s head after facing a double team. Illinois (17-8, 4-7) then ended Minnesota’s comeback hopes with a three-pointer by Tracy Abrams.

The Illini, who upset top-ranked Indiana in Champaign, Ill, used a 17-4 first-half run to take a 31-30 halftime lead after trailing by 12 points. Eliason, who replaced an injured Rodney Williams (shoulder) in the starting lineup, nailed a jumper to cut it to a one-point game before Mbakwe’s turnover.

Austin Hollins finished with 16 points and four steals to lead the Gophers. Tyler Griffey had 16 points for Illinois.

MEANING: If the Gophers were still in the running for a top-five seed entering Sunday, they shouldn’t be any longer after failing to beat an Illinois team still on the NCAA tournament bubble. Minnesota’s rematch against border rival Wisconsin is even more critical to stop another late-season collapse.

UP NEXT: vs. Wisconsin, 6 p.m., Thursday, ESPN2, KSTP-AM 1500

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